Your Excellencies,

Honoured guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me begin by expressing my true pleasure for welcoming today such a high-level audience to the conference "The Baltic States and the European Union Neighbourhood Policy" providing a comprehensive representation of parliamentarian and governmental institutions, as well as academic and non-governmental experts.

The goal of the European Neighbourhood Policy is to bring closer the vision of stable and prosperous Europe ensured by broad and enhanced cooperation between the EU and its neighbouring countries.

The Baltic states are among active supporters of this policy. I am glad to note that European Neighbourhood Policy was one of the priorities of the Latvian presidency in the Baltic Council of Ministers this year.

The Baltic states are focusing their attention and activities particularly towards the Eastern neighbours, and that can easily be explained by geographical closeness and knowledge of this region. Preparing for the conference we were guided by the desire to attract more attention to the Eastern neighbourhood of the European Union.

I would particularly like to emphasize the significance of the contribution that will be delivered by guests from Eastern neighbouring states. We would be pleased to hear your opinion on the possible new elements to be introduced in the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The added value of this conference in great extent will depend on our readiness to find answers to many questions, for example:

• Should we expand our cooperation to new sectors apart from traditional ones? 
• Should we broaden inter-parliamentary co-operation?
• Is there a possibility to improve the mechanisms of EU financial assistance?

Your views and ideas on those and other issues are essential in making this conference and the European Neighbourhood Policy, in general, a success story. Apart from that, I hope that the proposals and recommendations put forward today might materialize in our future plans of cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The European Neighbourhood Policy is the political framework that was designed specifically for the direct neighbours of the European Union, therefore I would like to take this opportunity to strongly encourage the neighbouring countries to explore all the possibilities and to take all the advantages this policy offers.

On our route of reforms and European integration Latvia received valuable assistance from the European Union and its Member States that we still appreciate highly. In view of our recent experience, including success achieved and lessons learned we now extend this experience and assistance to the neighbouring countries.

Last but not least, I would like to emphasize the role of non-governmental actors, whose knowledge and network of contacts can provide an important and integral supplement to the steps taken by politicians in order to contribute to the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am convinced that the presence of such a prominent and competent audience will ensure a challenging diversity of views during the conference.

I wish you to have a lively debate, constructive brain-storming and good ideas for common future action!